Ormoc City Mayor Richard I. Gomez hosted the 2018 Second Quarter Meeting of the NEDA Board-Regional Development Committee (RDCom) for Visayas Area Committee (VAC) held on June 21, 2018 at the City Mayor’s Office Conference Room, Ormoc City.
The meeting was presided over by RDCom VAC and RDC VI Chairperson, Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao. Other RDCom VAC officials present were: RDCom VAC Co-Chairperson and RDC VII Chairperson, Mr. Kenneth C. Cobonpue; RDC VIII Co-Chairperson, Atty. Roy Bernard C. Fiel; RDC VI Vice-Chairperson and NEDA VI Regional Director (RD), Ro-Ann A. Bacal; RDC VII Vice-Chairperson and NEDA VII RD, Efren B. Carreon; RDC VIII Vice-Chairperson and NEDA VIII RD, Atty. Bonifacio G. Uy; RDC VI Acting Secretary and NEDA VI OIC-Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Gilberto A. Altura; RDC VII Secretary and NEDA VII ARD, Dionisio C. Ledres, Jr.; and RDC VIII Secretary and NEDA VIII ARD, Meylene C. Rosales. Aside from the regular RDCom VAC officials, the following special guests were also present: NEDA-Regional Development Office Assistant Secretary, Mercedita A. Sombilla and Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV) Chief of Staff, Assistant Secretary Anthony Gerard Y. Gonzales.
During the meeting, the Committee tackled various concerns, particularly updates from the DPWH on the long link bridges; DOTr – CAAP on terminal fees and other income to fund emergency repairs of airports; DICT on projects to improve the capacities of service providers in the Visayas; and OPAV on the reallocation of Yolanda Funds reverted to the National Treasury. Moreover, Asec. Sombilla presented updates on the Boracay Inter-agency Task Force.
The meeting host, Mayor Gomez, also presented the development thrusts, plans, priorities and experiences of Ormoc City in relation to promoting and uplifting its economy. The insights shared by the Mayor were valuable since they can be replicated by other cities in the Visayas. The RDCom VAC wished the City well under the Mayor’s able leadership. With this, the good Mayor then assured the RDCom VAC of his support in all its future endeavors.
Another highlight of the meeting was the gracious hosting of a fellowship dinner by Mayor Gomez. The dinner was accompanied with a cultural show featuring the talented Ormocanons, which allowed the RDCom VAC officials and staff a taste of the best of Ormoc City. The very warm hospitality accorded by the city government of Ormoc was profoundly appreciated by the Committee.
Hiyasmin Batan-Martillo, PFPD, NEDA VIII
